Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-09-19
CATARRH.

TIRE TERM CATARRH is APPLIED TO A
L peculiar disorder of the postrils and ad.
jacent parts, which prevails to an alarming
extent, and is productive of very serious
consequences.
The most prominent and characteristic
feature is morbid discharge from the head
varying in its nature at different times.
In some there is an almost constant flow
OF clear aCrid fluid, but oftener an offensive,
purulent or muco,,purulent, greenish-yellow
matter is secreted, which accumulates in
the nostr1ls or drops into the throat, neces-
stating its frequent removal by blowing the
nose or expeetoratlon, and often by both
processes. sometimes patients feel as
though their head was in a state of rotten
ness, so great is the amount of matter dis
charged and so fetid is its odor The pa
tlent is greatly annoyed by. the constant
dropping into the throat of the mo, bid
matter from the head, and us u recumbent
position naturally favors the flow downward
his rest is frequently disturbed from this
cause. Many sufferers are obliged to lie Nth
the head very much elevated in order to
sleep with some degree OF comfort.
In others tough. yiscid and offensive
phlegm collects behind and above the soft
palate, in the passage between the throat and
head, adhering to the parts with gluish tcnac-
ity. Its lodgment cmbarrasses respiration
and creates sensation of irritation and un-
easiness in the affected locality, which gives
rise to Il constant and almost Irresistible de-
sire to relieve that discomfort by drawing
the mucus into the throat so as to eject it by
the mouth. This practice, popularity known
as "hawking," is characteristic of catarrh,
and proves as embarrassing TO the one al.
fectcd as it is disagreeable to those around
him.
Again, the offensive matter hardens and
deposits Itself on the mem brane in the shape
of dry hard concretions. which are dis
charged by way Of the nOstIils or throat in
lumpsor fragments of q deep green tint In
some cases these incrustations accumulate
IN n ~ 10 M II, fpry,
in enOse, which Obstructs breathing and
produce serious discomfort. So firmly do
these eiincrustations adhere to the point of
attachment that their removal usually re-
quires the most violent efforts; not unfre-
quently they have to be torn from the mem
braue. Occasionally u solid cast of notable
size is expelled, on which there are gen. rally
traces of blood, but in some cases the cast
presents n tubular appearance, being of exact
shape of the nasal cavity. This condition is
indicative of liberation, which, in time,
may destroy the bony structure OF the nose
and produce subsequent flattening OF that
organ.
Cases are occasionally met with in which
thick, viscid, Shiny secretion coats the
membrane OF the nasal cavities and then
putrefes, giving rise to a stencil which is
really oNerpowering, and sufficiently fctid
to poison the atmosphere of u whole room;
and there are others i'll which all the sec!e-
t1ons OF the membrane are suspended, caus-
ing an unpleasant feeling of dryness, heat
and feyershness in the head and hosea
condition popularly known as DRY
The disease speedily extends to the air
cavities of the bones OF the forehead and
face, giving rise to dist essing sensation of
heavy weight or compression over the fore
head, especially in the region above and he
tween the eyes, and to feeling OF fulness
heat, irritation, sore ness or pal in the nos
trils near the root OF the nose, as well as in
the upper part OF the throat, above and be-
hind the soft palate. Sometimes there is
pain obstinately fixed in some particular
part, as in the temple, on the top of the
head, at the back of the neck, or behind the
orbits. and, occasionally, pain manifests
itself in thc face OF SO severe a character
that ii is frequently mistaken for neuralgia
The breath is always tainted, and mt times
assumes an exceeding. fetid and sickering
ingly offensive as to render the sufferer an
object of disgust to himself Us well as to
Others.
The nasal membrane is thiekenci and
contested, causing the nose to be stopped up,
sometimes on one side, sometimes On the
other, and often on both, giving rise to a
disagrte cable, stufPy sensation in the head
ana occaslonlng violent and prolonged
paroxysms of sneeZing.
The voice is weak Indistinct and husky.
or OF nasal character, displaying sort OF
smiling quality. Oftentimes there is con-
tinuous hoarseness and discordanee There
is also a sense of irritation in the part,
and frequent attempts TO clear the throat of
phlegm, producing the sound ''hem," more
or less forcibly. In some cases patients
complain of an uncomfortable feeling OF
ful!ness, or choky sensation in the throat
and in others of distressing and almost
constant dryness, for the temporary relief OF
which they have TO swallow frequently.
Others; again, speak of constant bad or
nauseous taste in the mouth or throat.
The stomach generally suffers more or lcss
ana becomes weak and irritable: the appe-
t1te is caprjcious and nearly always bad in
the morning. The patient is languid, unable
70 perform mental or physical labor with
the usual facility, is nervous, depressed in
spirits, at times fearful. timid, agitated and
inclined to drOwsiness and sleep, the mem
ory weakened and permanent impairment
seriously threatened.
The mucous membrane soon becomes
morbidly sensitive to unfavorable influ-
ence6, and in spite of the utmost care be-
comes affected from the slightest causes, SO
that at last a breath of wind upon the lining
OF the nose or throat becomes productive os
cold, and gives rise to serious disturbances
of the respiratory organs. Thus the patient
is subject to frequent and repeated colds,
each attack aggrayating the disease by Civ
ing 1t a new impulse and involving larger
extent of surface than its predecessor. In
this manner the difficulty spreads from Or
gan to organ, invading the throat larnyx,
trachea and bronchial tubes, until, en-
the finer qualifications of the bronchi, when
but slight impulse il required to send it to
the lungs. Catarrh may, and often does,
affect other organs in the body, especially
those contain ng mucous membrane, such
as the stomach, bowels, kidneys, etc.
By the employment OF proper inhalatiOns
in the form OF mcdicated vapor mot steam
or spray) we are able to produce immediate
and direct action upon the diseased surface
in the pharynx and nasal passages for air
will find its way into the most remote and
intricate cavities, where il Is utterly impOs-
sible to make fluid applications. BY these
means every case can be cured.
Persons desiring treatment by this system
OF practice can use the remedy at home as
well rs at our office, and which will cause
no Inconvenience or hindrance to business
whatever.
have seen 80 many of these eases cured
that do not consider any case homeless nm
less the disease has advanced to the chest
and that both lungs are seriously involved.
Even then the inhalations aid us in dis
solving the mucus and in Contracting and
healing the cavities, which nothing else can
40 Win tne same success. The very best
references from those u1readv c,,rod